Dakota Andrie and Never Have I Ever Win AQHA YWC L1 13 and Under Western Pleasure

By: Brittany Bevis

While her horse’s name may have alluded to her experience at the AQHA Youth World Show, 13-year-old Dakota Andrie is a YWC newbie no longer. At her first appearance at a Youth World, Dakota walked out of the pen with a golden trophy for her performance with her THREE-YEAR-OLD, Never Have I Ever.

Dakota explains that she has had “Madonna” since she was just a weanling, and she picked the mare out herself. “My trainers, Jay and Kristy Starnes, had her, and we bought her from them. I picked her out. I liked that she was pretty, and I wanted a baby to work with. We clipped her, brushed and hosed her off, cross tied her, and led and longed her. I liked that she looked very natural and soft. Also, she’s very flowy and consistent.”

There is no such thing as a perfect ride, even for a newly crowned Champion, and Dakota is already thinking of ways to make her next performance better. “I was happy with our first direction. Our second wasn’t our best, but it was still good. Jay and Kristy always tell me not to worry about every little thing and to just stay calm and sit back.”

Does she ever get nervous showing a young horse, in a bridle, amongst much more seasoned animals? “Not really, actually. She’s always good. She’s never done anything to make me not trust her.”

Reserve in the class was Natalie Anderson with Geez What A Breeze. Third was Ty Terry with Ok Ima Cowboy. Fourth was Kenzie Bracken with SweetnSophisticated. Fifth was Makeila Eserjose with KM This Rounds On Me.